Tropic Times Vol. IX (April 20 - April 30 '98)

[EchoesIE]

Honolulu, HA -- For the first time since any Tropics fan can remember (even you old Typhoon fans), Hawaii has a lead, a 2 1/2 game lead, in the Johnson League Western Division. This last week, the Tropics posted a 4-3 record, not nearly as good as the 7-2 record they posted last week, but still not bad. The Tropics sit at 15-9, with a decent 8-5 record on the road. The tropics finished their first home set of the season, disappointing fans when Washington swept them in 4, but reveled in them when they went on the road and swept the Barnstormers. It wasn't a horrible 9 games, with some positives and negates, they just be ready...as their next 12 games are on the road -- serious frequent flier miles!

April 21
Hawaii 3, Phoenix 1
Only 9 combined hits were allowed in this game, as offense was kept to a minimum behind decent pitching from both clubs. Todd Swader pitched 8 solid innings for Hawaii, allowing 3 hits with 4 walked and 5 strikeouts. CP Leo Lopez earned his 5th save of the season with just 9 pitches in the 9th frame. Offensively it was also an off night for the Tropics. RF Silas Camarena went 2 for 4 with a double, while C Kevin Bulder hit his 4th dinger on the season.

April 22
Hawaii 5, Washington 7
Despite having 4 more hits than Washington, Hawaii fell behind by 4 runs in the 7th and couldn't bounce back. 1B David Smurf was back in the heat of things with a 3 for 5 day, and LF Daniel Fabiano also had 3 hits in his 5 ABs. The Tropics used 5 pitchers between the 6th inning and 9th inning as the pinch-hitting carousel went around. SP Steve Cooke got tagged with the loss, as he pitched 4 innings, allowed 4 runs on 5 hits and had a generally poor outing.

April 23
Hawaii 2, Washington 6
Hawaii held onto a slim 1-0 lead going into the 9th inning, when the vulnerable CP Leo Lopez gave up 6 runs. SS Tim McGraw went 2 for 4 in the loss, and C Kevin Bulder tried to get a 9th inning rally going when he hit a solo shot out of the park in the bottom half of the 9th. Yet no one could do anything and fortunately for the Tropics, it meant their 2nd straight home-loss.

April 24
Hawaii 3, Washington 6
SP Freddy Bilbao couldn't get into his normal groove in his outing. Bilbao went 6 innings, gave up 5 hits and 4 runs, while striking out just 4...his lowest strikeout total in a game since the season started. C Robin Larker (6) and RF Silas Camarena (2) both went deep in the game. CF Clark Devereaux had a day to forget, going 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

April 25
Hawaii flew to Omaha

April 26
Hawaii 8, Omaha 5
The Tropics posted 12 hits in a decisive win against the Barnstormers. 3B Robb Wells (2), RF Silas Camarena (3rd HR, a 3 for 5 game with 3 RBI) and CF Clark Devereaux (1) all went yard in the game. SP Remington Little escaped with his 3-0 record in the game, despite giving up 8 hits and 5 earned runs. 2 Relief pitchers pitched 2.1 innings while CP Leo Lopez came in for his 6th save.

April 27
Hawaii 13, Omaha 7
Hawaii again exploded for some heavy offense. 1B David Smurf pounded the ball, going 2 for 4, with 2 runs, 2 RBI and HR (7). C Robin Larker made his 2 hits (in 6 AB) matter, going yard once (7) while posting 2 RBI and 2 Runs. RF Silas Camarena posted a similiar stat-line -- 3 for 4, 2 RBI and 2 Runs. 2B George Gutowski had a career day, going 3 for 4, with 3 RBI, 2 Runs and a Base-on-Balls. SP Todd Swader didn't need to be excellent, the Tropics scored 7 runs in the first 2 innings. Swader gave up 13 hits, 7 runs, and an ERA of 4.41 but still came out with the win in 7.1 innings pitched.

April 28
Hawaii 9, Omaha 4
In another game that Hawaii never trailed in, RF Silas Camarena topped off his incredible series with a 4 for 4 effort, with a double and a run scored. SS Tim McGraw had a 3 for 4 effort with 3 RBI, a run scored and a triple in the 7th inning. 2B George Gutowski continued his hot streak, going 3 for 4 with both an RBI and a run. SP Steve Cooke went 6 strong innings for his 2nd win of the campaign.

Offensive Player:
RF Silas Camarena
Camarena went to the plate 29 times, and received a hit 13 times, earning a .448 average. Silas hit 2 homeruns and drove in 7 runs. Silas is batting .316 on the season.

Pitching Player:
SP Todd Swader
Swader earned 2 wins in 2 starts. Swader pitched 15.1 innings, gave up 16 hits and 8 Earned Runs, but his stuff was still good enough. Swader struck out 9 and walked 7

[recte44]

Silas two in a row for you? Nice.